
13 Ohio Medicaid Providers Indicted in $189K Fraud Case Following Statewide Investigation
Columbus, Ohio – 13 Ohio healthcare providers, including 12 home-health aides and one behavioral health specialist, have been formally indicted in Franklin County on felony charges of Medicaid fraud and theft. The alleged fraudulent claims, totaling $189,332, involved billing Medicaid for services that were never rendered, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.
The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, part of Yost’s office, led the investigation. “Fraudulent billing practices like these directly steal from vulnerable patients and Ohio taxpayers,” Yost emphasized. “This type of waste, fraud, and abuse will not be tolerated.”
The indicted individuals span various Ohio cities—including Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Cincinnati, and Youngstown—and face charges ranging from fourth- to fifth-degree felonies. Investigations revealed various misconducts, including billing for services while out of the country, submitting time sheets while working another job, and falsifying care documentation for hospitalized patients.
Notable cases include:
- Donna Deaver of Cleveland allegedly submitted fraudulent claims while the recipient was overseas, costing Medicaid $64,316.
- Erica Gore of Columbus billed for canceled services and is accused of $2,033 in fraudulent claims.
- Miranda Williams, a behavioral health counselor, reportedly billed for student sessions she never attended, incurring $26,915 in losses.
Other accused individuals include:
- Natosha Hall, Rachelle Monday, Gerald & Tara Patterson, Thong Phaphouvaninh, Bounmy Thammavongsa, Patric Snowden, John Thomas, Janay Veal, and Donna Wells—each facing serious charges related to falsified Medicaid claims.
The Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works in coordination with federal, local, and state partners to uncover fraudulent healthcare practices and ensure justice for those impacted by Medicaid fraud and patient neglect.